From organising psychiatry-themed movie nights to hosting a national conference, my role as President of the Psychiatry Society (PsychSoc) at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Now in my second year leading the society, I’ve had the privilege of bringing students together through a mix of academic and social events, all with the aim of fostering a deeper appreciation for psychiatry. Whether through revision quizzes, case-based discussion feedback clinics, or engaging guest lectures, our goal has always been to make psychiatry accessible and enjoyable for all students.
One of the highlights of my role was organising our Psychiatry National Conference, an event designed to showcase the specialty and inspire future psychiatrists. My motivation for the conference stemmed from a need to increase the awareness of psychiatry at BSMS. Psychiatry is a field that is sometimes misunderstood or underrepresented in medical education, and I wanted to provide a platform that demonstrated its depth and impact.
When planning the conference, we decided on a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry theme. This allowed us to explore a diverse range of topics, from neurodevelopmental disorders to perinatal psychiatry and CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). Our speaker selection process was driven by the aim to provide both breadth and depth; we invited specialists who could offer insights into their specific fields while ensuring attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of the specialty’s many facets. Breakout rooms enabled students to interactively engage with case examples and a short introductory course to psychotherapy was taught for students to get a feel for practicing this specialty.
The day of the conference itself was stressful yet exciting. Seeing months of planning come together successfully was truly satisfying. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, and it was incredibly rewarding to hear that the event had sparked new interest in psychiatry for many students. It reinforced my belief in the importance of creating opportunities like these for students to engage with different specialties in an interactive and meaningful way.
Melis Cobandag at the BSMS Psychiatry Conference
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue leading PsychSoc and organising more events that inspire and educate. My time in this role has deepened my enthusiasm for psychiatry, and I hope to pursue a career in the field, incorporating my interests in teaching and research along the way. I’m incredibly grateful to my committee for their hard work and dedication—none of this would have been possible without their support.
My journey with PsychSoc has shown me the power of student-led initiatives in shaping medical education. Psychiatry is an ever-evolving specialty that sits at the intersection of medicine, neuroscience, and social sciences, and I hope to continue advocating for its importance within medical training. Whether through future conferences, teaching opportunities, or research projects, I look forward to contributing to the field and encouraging others to explore its many possibilities.
To anyone considering getting involved in student societies, I would wholeheartedly encourage it. It’s an incredible way to develop leadership skills, create meaningful experiences for your peers, and gain deeper insight into a field you’re interested in. My time with PsychSoc has been really fulfilling, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.